Assessment of Physical Activity (PA) Readiness and Participation among Staff in Nigerian Universities

Abstract

Inactivity and sedentary living are on the increase globally. Readiness to begin, continue and sustain PA (physical activity) behaviour plays key roles in attaining desirable health outcome. Evidence-based data regarding readiness to begin and /or maintain physical activity among staff in workplaces including the University environment have become indispensable for initiating PA behaviour promotion policies and programmes. This study adopted the descriptive survey research design to assess the prevalence of PA readiness and participation behaviors among university staff in south-eastern Nigeria. Six hundred staff, (age ranged from 25-65 years old, male and female, teaching and non-teaching) from two Federal Universities participated in the study. Self-reported data were obtained with PA stages of change assessment instrument. Results indicate 60% of all respondents representing (pre-contemplation, contemplation and preparation) were not participating in PA or doing so infrequently, while 40% were actively participating. T-test yielded no significant differences for both gender, [Males (M=3.09; SD=1.39), Females (M=2.95, SD=1.37) t=1.20, p= .23] and staff categories, [Teaching staff (M=3.13; SD=1.33), Non-teaching staff (M = 3.03; SD = 1.43) t=1.78, p= .07]. In conclusion, majority of university staff were at the pre-adoption or pre-action stages irrespective of gender and staff categories. PA programme to facilitate transition to action and maintenance stages was recommended.

Keywords: physical activity (PA), university staff, stages of change, health, behavior